Year-Round Farmers’ Market Comes To SUNY Plaza

Chancellor Zimpher Highlights Increased Vibrancy Downtown, Support for New York Agriculture

Plaza Lawn Open for Summer, Community Invited to Utilize Green Space in Front of Historic SUNY Building

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, in partnership with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s FreshConnect initiative, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the City of Albany, and the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, today announced that SUNY Plaza will host the Farmers’ Market every Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., opening historic SUNY Plaza to the community year-round.

The Farmers’ Market at SUNY Plaza will feature a growing number of farmers and vendors outside every Thursday afternoon, in front of SUNY and the federal building, near the intersection of State Street and Broadway. During inclement weather and the winter months, the market will be held inside System Administration’s first floor gallery.

Bringing the market to SUNY Plaza aligns with the University’s strategic planning commitment to improving the vibrancy of New York’s communities across the state and supports the state’s agriculture industry through increased procurement of local goods and services in addition to academic programs aligned with industry demand.

“SUNY campuses are anchor institutions in communities across New York, and the same holds true for our historic headquarters in Downtown Albany,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “As part of the fabric of New York State’s Capital City, SUNY is proud to open its doors to the public and to leverage its assets with events like the farmers’ market that attract more people to downtown and bring renewed vitality to this important part of Albany. We look forward to the many visitors this will attract to SUNY Plaza throughout the year.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We are delighted that SUNY Plaza is opening a new FreshConnect Farmers’ Market in downtown Albany, which will provide New York agricultural products every Thursday for city residents and visitors. Providing local foods to communities in the market for them is what the Governor’s FreshConnect program is all about. At their core, farmers’ markets do a great job of bringing communities together and I am certain that’s what SUNY’s new market will do.”

City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “We are thrilled to have a farmers’ market in the heart of downtown Albany, and can think of no better place for it than the beautiful SUNY Plaza, one of Albany’s best-loved and iconic sites. On behalf of the city, I want to thank SUNY for hosting the market and helping to expand it to become a year-round event. It’s community partnerships like those exhibited today – between stakeholders and neighbors – that create strong, livable cities and will enhance quality of life in downtown Albany. Thanks to the many vendors who will be bringing their goods to market here. We look forward to supporting you.”

Frank Stanton, president of the Capital District Farmers’ Market Association, said, “Farmers markets are becoming the trendy way to shop. The farmers markets’ growth depends on the growing interest among people who want control over what they’re eating. People want to reduce the environmental impact by traveling fewer miles to shop and buy foods that have traveled fewer miles to get to market. People feel good to contribute to the local ecosystem and local economy.”

Chancellor Zimpher also formally opened the plaza lawn to the community for the summer and invited the public and the Downtown Albany community to utilize SUNY’s green space and visit the historic SUNY building to view the student artwork now on display on the first floor.

As part of the day’s family-friendly events, Tessa Edick and FarmOn! Foundation helped connect children to seed and soil with biodynamic organic seed packet crafts and planting activities to inspire healthy eating and happier meals. Live music was provided by the Zucchini Brothers.

Chancellor Zimpher also highlighted the university system’s coordinated farm-to-market procurement program, “SUNY Commits, in which campuses agree ahead of growing season to collectively purchase locally-grown or processed foods to be procured in dining halls. The program launched in October with the purchase of 1,000 gallons of tomato sauce by 12 SUNY campuses. SUNY is seeking to expand the program to include more SUNY colleges in the coming years, as well as more New York products, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Nine Pin Cider Works, Albany County – craft ciders from 100% Capital District and Hudson Valley New York apples. Nine Pin Cider Works, located in downtown Albany, has the distinction of being New York's first-ever licensed farm cidery.

About FreshConnectThe FreshConnect program was the first step in Governor Cuomo’s "Farm New York" initiative to invest in the state's agriculture industry, a vital component of the state's economy. Currently in its fourth year, the FreshConnect Farmers’ Market program has increased capacity for farmers to directly market their products to consumers while providing New Yorkers in underserved communities with new opportunities to purchase farm fresh products. Since its inception the Fresh Connect Program has funded more than 90 projects throughout the state and allocated more than $1 million.For more information about the FreshConnect Farmers’ Market program, please visit: freshconnect.ny.gov.

About FarmOn! FoundationCreated in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of Culinary Partnership, FarmOn! Foundation is the financial beneficiary of the Friends of the Farmer Festival. Tessa Edick, founder of both, has cultivated and nurtured a broad network of supporters and beneficiaries within New York. Located in the heart of the agricultural community of the Hudson Valley in Columbia County, N.Y., the organization strives to bring community awareness to food sources, reinvigorate a respect for farming to inspire youth and encourage careers in agriculture and help connect rural to urban marketplaces. By supporting succession on the farm and funding educational youth programs and experiences for the next generation of farmers, FarmOn! Foundation is working to preserve family farming in America.

About the State University of New YorkThe State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, with 64 college and university campuses located within 30 miles of every home, school and business in the state. In 2015–16, SUNY served nearly 1.3 million students, including nearly 600,000 in credit-bearing courses and programs and more than 700,000 through continuing education and community outreach programs. SUNY students and faculty across the state make significant contributions to research and discovery, resulting in nearly $1 billion of externally sponsored activity each year. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.